Merced, CA (February 25, 2026) — Merced College has been named a 2026 Bellwether Award winner in the Workforce Development category, a national honor recognizing innovative and replicable programs that address critical workforce challenges.
According to a Feb. 24 press release, the award recognizes the college’s AgTEC Workforce Initiative, described as “a comprehensive agricultural innovation ecosystem designed to prepare farmworkers and future agricultural professionals for a rapidly evolving industry shaped by automation, robotics and data-driven systems.” The Bellwether Awards, presented annually by the Bellwether College Consortium, are described as “one of the most competitive and prestigious honors in community college education.”
Merced College President Chris Vitelli stated in the release, “This recognition affirms what we have believed from the beginning: that the future of agriculture depends on investing in people.” He added, “Through AgTEC, we set out to change that. We built a model that aligns industry need, educational innovation and regional collaboration — and one that is already being replicated well beyond our campus.”
The press release states that California’s Central Valley produces “roughly one-quarter of the nation’s food supply,” while noting that agricultural workers often face “economic insecurity and limited access to flexible postsecondary education.” As farms adopt precision agriculture, GPS-guided equipment, robotics and advanced processing systems, demand for “skilled, technologically proficient workers continues to grow.”
Merced College serves as the workforce lead for the multi-county Farms Food Future (F3) Initiative, which aims to create 10,000 high-paying jobs across the food systems value chain and increase average wages. At the center of the AgTEC initiative is the Ag Systems Certificate, described as “the first competency-based education (CBE) program launched in California.” Offered in English and Spanish, the program allows students to demonstrate mastery of 14 industry-validated competencies rather than progressing solely based on seat time.
The college reports that 155 students have enrolled in the Ag Systems Certificate at Merced College, with 90% identifying as first-time college students. Across participating colleges, 600 students have enrolled. Students at Merced College have collectively mastered 645 competencies, with 3,300 competencies mastered regionally. Program completers report an average entry wage of $25 per hour, with 80% securing job placement within six months. More than 50 employer partners have been engaged in curriculum design, validation and applied learning opportunities.
“These outcomes reflect more than enrollment growth,” said Cody Jacobsen, Dean of Agriculture & Industrial Technology. “They demonstrate that when industry helps define competencies, and education adapts to meet workers where they are, we can accelerate skill development and connect students directly to high-quality careers.”
The release also highlights the college’s recent groundbreaking for a 22,000-square-foot AgTEC Innovation Center, which will include specialized laboratories for nut, fruit, vegetable and meat processing, as well as a nutrition and product development kitchen and an on-site farm market. In partnership with Reservoir Farms, the college plans to host the Center for Ag Robotics & Entrepreneurship, described as “an on-campus startup incubator that supports emerging agricultural technology companies while providing students with hands-on, applied learning experiences.”
Vitelli stated, “We are not only preparing students for today’s jobs, but also building the infrastructure, partnerships, and pathways that will define the next generation of agricultural leadership in the Central Valley and beyond.”
According to the release, the Ag Systems curriculum has already been implemented or is in the process of being implemented at multiple community colleges across the state. The college is also expanding the pathway to include an associate degree and is developing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural systems.
The AgTEC initiative has been featured on CBS News and in the Los Angeles Times, and the college states that the 2026 Bellwether Award “further affirms Merced College’s leadership in shaping the future of workforce education through innovation, measurable outcomes and regional collaboration.”
“This recognition reinforces Merced College’s growing reputation as a leader in workforce development,” said Jill Cunningham, Vice President of External Relations. “Our work through AgTEC demonstrates that innovation, strong partnerships and measurable results can come from right here in the Central Valley, and we are proud to lead this initiative.”
